Wrexham Schools Offered Additional Funding by Welsh Government

Wrexham’s Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths has welcomed the news that the majority of secondary schools in Wrexham are set to receive £10,000 to help improve standards and performance. The Welsh Government’s announcement means it is the second year that Band 4 and 5 secondary schools across Wales have had the additional funding made available.

In order to access the grant schools will have to submit clear action plans with improvement targets to their local associations. Banding uses the performance of schools to group them into one of five bands. From Band 1, schools which are performing well, to Band 5 schools which need to improve.

The banding results allow parents and teachers to see how their schools are performing, relative to other areas around Wales. Factors such as attendance rates, GCSE results, the amount of children receiving free school meals and whether pupils perform and achieve their predicted grades are all taken into account.

The data offers the Welsh Government a more sophisticated system than league tables and a gives a picture as to how schools perform as well as providing information to challenge schools to progress. A total of 84 secondary schools in Wales will benefit from the additional funding, totalling £840,000.

The Wrexham schools profiting from the scheme are:

• Darland High School
• St Joseph’s
• Ysgol Bryn Alyn
• Ysgol Morgan Llwyd
• Ysgol Clywedog

All are eligible to receive the financial boost, enabling them to achieve their goals and continue to improve levels of education within their respective schools.

The Welsh Government’s banding system is designed to reflect whether schools are making improvements relative to each other. It is therefore possible schools could move down a band if they stay at the same level or even develop slightly. Positions could change due to other schools around the country making more significant improvements.

AM Griffiths said “I am pleased the Welsh Government continues to address educational issues and that Wrexham stands to benefit substantially from the latest announcement.”

“Last year’s results demonstrate schools in Bands 4 and 5 made real progress. This Welsh Government funding will go a long way in helping our local schools deliver improvements for their learners.”